Yarn carrier mechanism for flat knitting machines



Nov. 17, 1959v A. J. coBERT 2,912,840

YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1955 8Sheets-Sheet. 1

Nav. 17, 1959 A. J. COBERT 2,912,840

YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June l0, 1955 8Sheets-Sheet 2 Y 19V V* W E J Mgo Q. w al g S E f @El Er 9:

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Nov. 17, 1959 A. J. coBERT 2,912,840

l YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR ILAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June l0, 19558 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 17, 1959 A. J. coBERT 2,912,840

YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1955 8Sheets-Sheet. 4

NOV. 17, 1959 A A, J, CQBERT v 2,912,840

YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR` FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1955 8Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 17, 1959 A. J. COBERT 2,912,840

YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June lO, 1955' 8Sheets-Sheet 6 Nov. 17, 1959 A. J. coBERT 2,912,840

YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES BRAKE LUTCH L5 CARRIERLUTCH BRAKE L' ARRIER CLUTC BRAKE Iaweaa'ow: ./lzdaua# J Coev,"

Nov. 17, 1959 2,912,840

YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1955 A..1. coBER'T 8 Sheets-Sheet, 8

also in the devices, combinations and arrangements of United StatesPatent() YARN CARRIER MECHANISM FOR FLAT KNITTIN G MACHINES Arthur J.Cobert, Chattanooga, Tenn., assgnor of lfty percent to Beautiful Bryans,Incorporated, Chattanooga, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee ApplicationJune 1o, 195s, serialiNo. 514,625 o 21 claims. y(ci. tss-.121)

The present invention relates to an improved yarn carrier drivemechanism for flat knitting machines.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novelelectrical driving and control system for driving the several carrierrods from the coulier mechanism for a multiple section full-fashionedknitting machine which is of relatively simple construction, and at tmagnetic clutch and braking units for driving the indi- 1 vidual carrierbars from the main slide bar, and control means whereby said clutchesand braking units are operated to maintain an eiiicient and selectivecontrol of the several carriers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide aV" novelconstruction and arrangement of the shock absorbing mechanism for theactive carrier rods which'is simple and at the same time most eiTectivein 4operation rwhereby the individual carriers are caused to slow downand stop with the degree of precision required vfor very high speedoperation. v

In accordance with this object a novel and improved mechanical slow downmechanism is provided including a slow speed driver which operates incombination with slow down cam and follower elements of a shockabsorbing mechanism to control the movement of a main carrier slide barand thereby to effect the desired operation and control of theindividual carrier rods. w

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improvedmechanical construction ofA the carrier drive mechanism including a slowspeed driver which is well adapted for the operation, particularly ofcertain short course carriers at a substantially reduced speed while themachine as a whole continues to operate at the higher A rate.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a novel andeffective combination of a mechanical shockr absorbing mechanism and anelectro-magnetic clutch drive for the slide bars and several carrierrods which provide for a more eiicient and versatile operationvv of thecarrier mechanism.

With these and other objects in View as may hereinafter appear, theseveral yfeatures of the invention consist parts hereinafter describedand claimed, which together with the advantages to be obtained therebywill be readily understood by oneskilled in the art from the followingdescription taken in connection with 'the accompanying drawings, inwhich 1Fig.-lv is a sectional l'view ofthe-machine illustrating lCCparticularly the slur bar, and the slow speed drive connections -forcertain carrier rods;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of a portion of a machineillustrating particularly the coulier drive, one of the high speeddriving units for a carrier bar, and an electrical control `device forcontrolling the operationof the rotary electro-magnetic clutch slidebar; f v

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View of one of the high speed driving unitsfor driving one of the carrier bars from the coulier mechanism ofthemachine, the rotary electromagnetic clutch and drive connections shownbeing substantially those illustratedin Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation showing the six Secondaryrotary electro-magnetic clutch and braking devices driven from the maincarrier slide bar 108 for driving six of the seven. carrier rods;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary v iew looking from the rear of the machineshowing each of the four secondary rotary electrical clutch and brakingunits driven from the slow speed driver for actuating short coursecarriers of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a view in rear elevation of a portion of the machineillustrating the main carrier stop blocks and the shock absorbingmechanism for controlling the operation of the several carrier rods;

Fig.A 7 is a View in front elevation of the left hand endof the machineillustrating particularly the pattern chain by means of which theseveral automatic motions of the machine are controlled; I r

Fig. 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic isometric View illustratingparticularly the stop devices associated with the main carrier slide barforming part of the shock absorbing mechanism and the controllingmechanism for f rendering the shock vabsorber mechanism inoperativeztoarrest the movement of the main carrier slide bar;

Fig. 9 is a diagram of the electrical connections for the carrier drivemechanism of the machine; and

Fig. l0 is a diagrammatic view of the elements of the electrical controlsystem of the machine including the electrical control shaft and switchactuating devices mounted on the-main cam shaft. l f

The invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a multiple section atfull-fashioned knitting machine which may be of ordinary descriptioncomprising a series of cross frames 2li spaced apart each two knittingsections along the length of the machineand tied together by lower frontand rear bars 22, 24, sinker rail 26 and table 28. v A main cam shaft 30mounted in bearings 32 provided in each of the frames 2t) extendsalongthe length of the machine in the base. Other operating shafts includethe needle vertical and horizontal motion rock shafts 34, 36 and a handwheel shaft 38. The knitting instrumentalities associated with eachknitting section as indicated in Fig. l include a series of spring beardneedles 39 movable as a unit on a needle bar 40, a press edge formed bythe leading edges of va sinker support bar 42, a series ofalternatingsinkers and dividers 44, anda series of knock-over bits 46.vThe needle bar 40 is mounted on vertical arms 48 which are pivoted onhorizontal support arms 5l) secured to the needle vertical lmotion rockshaft 34 which is' rocked by means of depending cam levers 52 located atspaced intervals along the length of shaft 34 for engagement withidentical c ams 54 similarly spaced along the .length ofthe cam shaft3l). vThe needle bar supporting arms 43 are connected at their lowerends by links 56 with downwardly extending levers Slisecured to theneedle horizontal motion rock shaft 36. Selected levers 58 along thelength of the machine are providedwith follower rolls 60 for engagementwithfcooperating needle horizontal motion cams 62 on the main cam shaft30. f

The yarn measuring sinkers 44 are advanced in a,

f or the main carrier means of a mechanism `knitting wave Vto sink yarnabout the needle shanks by which includes the usual sinker 68 for eachknitting section carried on a reciprocating slur bar 7i) (see Fig. l).The slur bar, together with the yarn carriers hereinafter to be morefully described have imparted thereto reciprocating movementslongitudinally of the machine by means of a coulier motion which as bestshown in 2 comprises a coulier cam 74 which is supported to turn on aforward and back axis in the machine and is driven from the main camshaft 3i) through bevel gearing including a bevel gear 76 which mesheswith a cooperating bevel gear not shown on the cam shaft 3Q. The couliercam 74 is engaged at the opposite sides thereof by two follower Wheels78 mounted on a cross link 3@ which is Connected at one end to adepending lever arm S2 and at its other end to a vertically disposedcoulier drive lever 84. The lever 84 is pivoted at its lower end at 86to a fixed bracket on the machine and is connected at its upper end bymeans of a sliding block with a slide box 88 which rides on two fixedsupport bars 96 and 92. The slide box 83 is formed with a forwardlyextending bracket 94 (see Figs l and 3) to which is secured the slur bar70. With the arrangement shown and as above described the slur bar 7d iscontinuously reciprocated with the slide box 83 by means of the coulierdrive lever 84.

The mechanism for feeding yarn to the needles of the several knittingsections comprises yarn carriers such as that indicated at 95 in Fig. lmounted on a series of carrier bars 96 to 102, inclusive which areslidably supported in frames 164i located at spaced intervals along thelength of the machine. It will be understood that in accordance with theusual practice each of the seven carrier bars shown has secured theretoone yarn carrier 95 for each knitting section along the length of themachine.

In accordance with the present invention a novel and improved mechanismis provided for driving the several carrier bars from the couliermechanism above described and for controlling the operation of theindividual carrier bars under the various operating conditionsencountered in the operation of the machine.

As best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings the slide box 8S is connected toa carrier drive rod 106 which is continuously reciprocated with theslide box `88 by the coulier drive lever 8d. The drive rod 1% isconnected to impart reciprocating movements to a main carrier slide bar103 through connections which include a rotary electromagnetic clutch(see Figs. 2 and 3) having a driving element 11i) and a cooperatingdriven element 111. The driving member 11@ is mounted on a short driveshaft 112 which has secured thereto at its forward end a pinion 114which meshes with a rack 116 secured to the driving rod 106. The drivenelement 111 of the electro-magnetic clutch is mounted on a driven shaft11S which is connected to drive a parallel shaft 12d through a pinion122 on the shaft 11d, an idler pinion 124, and a pinion 126 on the shaft129. At its forward end the shaft 12b carries a pinion 128 which mesheswith a rack 13d on the main carrier slide bar 108. it will be understoodthat the slide bar S extends along a suiiicient length of the machine toprovide a space for connecting thereto each of the individual rotaryelectro-magnetic clutch and braking devices for driving each of theseveral carriers shown, and the adjustable carrier slow down and stopmechanism for the main carrier slide bar 10S hereinafter more fullydescribed In Figs. 2 and 3 there is shown a rotary electro-magneticclutch and braking device for driving the third-from-front carrier rod,specifically designated at 98. The rotary electro-magnetic clutchconsists of a driving clutch member 136 and a cooperating driven member138 of which the driving member is mounted on one end of a shaft jacks66 and a slur box meshes with the rack 130 on the main carrier slide bar108. The driven element 138 is mounted on a forwardly extending shaft144 which carries intermediate its length a pinion 146 which meshes witha rack 148 on the carrier bar 98. At its forward end the shaft 144 isconnected with an electro-magnetic braking device 15() which is in turnmounted on a fixed portion of the machine frame. While theelectro-magnetic clutch 136, 108 and brake unit 150 has been describedfor driving the one carrier rod 9S only from the main slide bar 198, itWill be understood that identical rotary magnetic clutch devicesindicated respectively at 97', 99', 130', 161 and 102' (see Fig. 4) andassociated braking devices not identified are provided which areconnected with the rack for driving each of the remaining carrier rodsgenerally designated at 96, 97, 99, 11MB, 101 and 1M.

The electrical control devices of the machine, by means of which theoperation of the main rotary electro-magnetic clutch 110, 111 and of thesecondary electro-magnetic clutch and brake units 97' to 102 iscontrolled, will be more fully set forth hereinafter in connection withthe description of the electrical control devices of the machine.

In accordance with the present invention a separate slow speed drivingmechanism is provided for driving from the coulier mechanism certain ofthe carriers, more particularly short course carriers, at a slow ratewhich in the embodiment shown is reduced to substantially onehalf thenormal rate of drive of the carrier rod. This mechanism provided to thisend comprises a half-speed driver bar 15d` (see Fig. l) which is spacedalong the length of the machine from the driving rod M6 and which isconnected to be driven from the coulier driving lever 84 at half therate of rod 166 by means of a driving link 156 (see Fig. 2) which isconnected between the coulier driving lever 84, and a verticallydisposed driving lever 157 (Fig. l). The lever 157 is mounted to swingon a pivot shaft 158 and at its upper end is connected to a bracket 160which is slidable on support shafts 9i), 92'and is -connected to drivethe half-speed driving rod 154. The half-speed driving rod 154 isconnected to impart Acorresponding reciprocatory movement to ahalf-speed carrier slide bar 162 by means of a rotary electro-magneticclutch and gear driving connections which are similar to thosepreviously described for driving the main carrier slide bar. Thesedriving connections, as best shown in Fig. l comprise a half-speedelectro-magnetic clutch having the driving member lli/14 and drivenmember 166', the driver being supported on a drive shaft 16S whichcarries a pinion 17@ meshing with a rack 172 on the half-speed drivingrod 154. The driven element 1.55 of the rotary electro-magnetic clutchis mounted on a shaft 17d which is connected by pinions 176, 178 and 1S@with parallel drive shaft 182 having at its forward end a pinion 134which meshes with a rack 156 on the half-speed carrier slide bar 162.

Selected short course carrier rods may be driven from the half-speedcarrier slide bar 162 by means of individual rotary electro-magneticclutch devices such as that illustrated generally at 183 in Fig. l fordriving the thirdfrom-rear carrier rod designated at 1%@ and theassociated braking device 2dr-. As particularly shown in Fig. 5 fourcarrier rods 99, 106, MB1, and 1&2 are indicated as short course carrierrods, and are adapted to be driven from the half-speed diver 154 bymeans of the half-speed rotary magnetic clutch devices indicatedrespectively at 185, 187, 188 and 139 in Fig. 5 together with theirassociated braking devices, not identified. These driving connectionswhich are identical with the driving connections above describedfordriving the carrier rods from the main slide carrier bar 10S consistof a rotary electro-magnetic clutch compising, for example, drivingelement 188 shown in Figs. l and 5, and a cooperating driven element192. The driving element 1,38 is supported on a vshort drive shaft 194which, at VVits rear. end, carries va pinion 1% which meshes with rack186. rThe vdriven element 19,2

`,of theelectrdmagnetic clutch isfsupported onta forwardly extendingshaft 198 which carries a pinion 200 meshing with a rack 202 on thecarrier rod 100. At its forward end the shaft 198 is connected with anelectro-magnetic braking device 204 which is supported on the machine.

In accordance with the invention the operation of each of the severalcarrier rods driven from the main carrier slide bar 108 is determinedand controlled substantially by devices which determine and control theoperation of the main slide bar 108. While separate stops are providedfor arresting movement of the individual carrier rods lin eachdirection, a single shock absorber device is employed which acts againstthe main carrier slide bar 108. Whatever slippage may be requiredbetween the positive coulier drive and the individual carrier rods issupplied by controlling the voltage of the main electromagnetic clutchfor driving the main slide bar 108. Movement of individual carrier rodsto and from their inactive storage positions is effected by means ofspecial movements imparted to the main slide bar 108. Theelectro-magnetic clutch devices by means of which the individual carrierrods are driven from the main carrier slide bar 108 are intended toprovide a positive driving connection therebetween and bar 108 utilizedto move, and associated braking devices alternatively to secure theinactive carrier rods rmly in their rest positions.

Adjustable stops are provided for arresting the travel of the carrierrods in each direction which include right and left dead stop carrierblocks 208, 210 slidably supported -on rods 90, 92 and having formedtherein nuts which engage respectively with oppositely threaded portions212, 214 of a positioning screw located and suplported in brackets 216,218, 220 mounted on a supporting shaft 90. The carrier blocks 208, 210are providedwith the usual carrier stop abutinents which are arrangedfor engagement With cooperating stops 224 on the carrier rods. Theposition of the adjustable dead stop carrier blocks 20S, 210 iscontrolled by means of a pawl and ratchet control mechanism which may beof ordinary description actuated from the main cam shaft 30 of themachine. The actuating mechanism shown includes a pawl actuating cam 226on the cam shaft, a cam follower lever 228, and a pair of oppositelydisposed pawls and ratchets which are secured to the screw shaft212,-214. The pawls, continuously actuated by the cam 226, are normallyheld in inoperative position and are selectively permitted to engagewith their respective ratchets by means of adjustable shields supportedco-axially with the ratchets and arranged to be controlled from thepattern chain of the machine to render one or the other pawl selectivelyoperative as may be desired.

A second set of carrier stop blocks, not specifically shown, areprovided in accordance with the usual practice for arresting themovement of the short course reinforcement carriers at their innerselvage edges. Inasmuch as these carrier stops are similar to thosepreviously described and are well known in the art no specificdescription is needed herewith.

As the active carrier rod and the main carrier slide bar 108 approachthe limit stop position a mechanically acting slow-down and shockabsorbing device becomes operative to slow the movement of the maincarrier slide bar 108. This mechanism comprises a pair of brackets 230,232 (Fig. 6) which are iixedly mounted on the halfspeed driver 154 andwhich carry respectively bell crank slow-down levers 234, 236. A tensionspring 238connected between the horizontal arm of the bell crank 234 anda pin on the bracket 230 tends to move the horizontal arm downwardly toa limit position determined by a stop screw 240 upon the bracket. Theupwardly extending arm of the bell crank 234 is arranged to be engagedby a stop 242 on the main carrier slide bar 108. The slowdown bell cranklever 236 mounted on the bracket 23-2 is similarly held with itshorizontal arm in a downward position by means of a tension spring 244against a positioning stop 246. An upwardly extending arm of the bellcrank 236 is arranged to be engagedby a stop `248 on the main slide bar108.A

With this arrangement of the parts it will be readily seen that theslow-down brackets 230, 232 with their associated slow-down bell cranklevers 234, 236 will travel with the half speed driver 154 atapproximately half the speed of the main slide bar 108. The brackets230, 232 are so positioned with relation to the stops 242, 248 on themain slide bar 108 that as the slide bar approaches the limit of itsmovement, as for example, to the left from the position shown in Fig. 6,the stop 242 will be brought into engagement with the upwardly extendingarm of the bell crankl234, thus positively slowing the main slide bar108 to one-half its normal operatng speed. As the slide bar 108 and theactive carrier associated therewith approach their limit positiony asdetermined by the associated stop block 208, the horizontal arm of thebell crank 234 engages a cam 250 mounted von the lower portion of thestop block 208, thus causing the bell crank 234 to rock in a clockwisedirection from the position shown in Fig. 6 to still further slow themovement of the main slide bar 108 and its associated active carrierrod. The bracket 230, and the slow-down bell crank lever 234, mounted onthe positively actuated half-speed driver 154, will continue theirmovement to the left to an extreme position in which the horizontal armof the bell crank 234 rides oi of the cam 250. Fig. 6 shows the bracket232 and bell crank 236 in their extreme position to the right withrespect to a cooperating slow down cam 254 on the stop block 210. i p

In the illustrated machine means are provided for rendering theslow-down and shock absorbing mechanism above described inoperative sothat the main slide bar 108 may be permitted to move to the limit of itstravel in either direction as, for example, when such movement of themain slide bar is required for positioning the main slide bar to engagewith and bring a new carrier rod out of the storage position. To thisend the stops 242 and 248 are constructed and arranged to be moved underthe control of a pattern control out of the path of movement of theupwardly extending arms respectively of the slow-down bell crank levers234 and 236. A detail of the stop 242 and its supporting and actuatingmechanism is particularly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. As thereshown the stop 242 is formed in the upper end of a vertically movableslide member 258 carried in a guideway 260 on the main slide bar 108.The stop 248 forms part of a similar slide member 261 vertically movableon the main slide bar 108. At their lower ends the slide members 258 and261 are provided, with forwardly oiset portions indicated at 262 in Fig.8 which engage beneath a horizontally disposed control bar 264, whichextends along a substantial portion of the length of the machine and ismounted on horizontally disposed arms 266 secured to a rock shaft 268supported from depending brackets 270 (Fig. 6) on the iixed shaft 90.The control bar 264 is of sucient length to at all times engage theoffset lower ends of the slide members 258 and 261 mounted on thelongitudinally reciprocating slide bar 108. As best shown in Fig. 8 atension spring 272 connected between the upper end of the slide 258 andoverhanging bracket 274 and a similar spring 276 (Fig. 6) associatedwith the stop 248 acts normally to maintain the stops 242, 248 in theirraised operative position. The control bar 264 is depressed when it isdesired to render the stops inoperative by means controlled from thepattern chain of the machine which comprises a Bowden wire 278 (Fig. 6)connected at its upper end to one of the arms 266 and at its other endto a solenoid 280 mounted on the rear rail 24 of the machine. Thesolenoid 280 is energized to depressy the control bar 264 and thus torender thevstopsinoperative by means of a switch actuated from thepatternchain of the machine. Y

The illustrated machine is provided with a pattern con- .trol mechanismwhich may be of ordinary description consisting of a pattern chain 284which rides over a drum 286 mounted on a cross shaft 283 adjacent theleft hand end of the machine as seen in Fig. 7. The chain 284i issupported also by means of a take-up pulley 2%) carried on a bracket 292secured to the front lower frame 22 of the machine. The pattern chain284 and drum 286 have imparted thereto a stepped advancing movementwhich is timed with the rotation of the main cam shaft 30. The drivingmechanism referred to includes a ratchet and cooperating pawl indicatedat 294 which receives an oscillatory movement from a cam 2% on the camshaft 3l). lnasmuch as this mechanism is well known in the art nofurther illustration or description thereof is believed to be necessary.

Certain abutments on the pattern chain 234 and their associated patternlevers operate switches which in turn control the solenoids, rotaryelectro-magnetic clutches and braking devices above described to renderselected carrier rods active and inactive. in Fig. 7 there is shown apattern lever 298 of conventional type mounted on a pivot shaft 300 andhaving the horizontal arm thereof positioned to be engaged and rocked bya button on the chain. A vertically extending arm of pattern lever 298acts when rocked in a clockwise direction to close the contacts of aswitch 302.

A novel feature of the electrical system of the machine consists in theprovision of a rotary switch mechanism for controlling the operation ofthe rotary electromagnetic clutches for the thread carrier system abovedescribed. The rotary switch referred to is driven in timed relation tothe rotation of the machine cam shaft 30, and in timed relation to thelongitudinal reciprocation of the carrier bars and is additionallyadjustable further to vary the timing of switch operation in accordancewith the setting of the carrier stops.

A rotary switch of the type referred to is specifically shown in Fig. 2and comprises a drum 304 having two separated semi-cylindrical contactsurfaces 306 and 307, and at the left hand thereof slip rings connectedwith the individual contact surfaces. A slip ring 3% connected withsurface 306 is shown in Fig. 2 engaged by a stationary brush 310. Aswill be evident from an inspection of Fig. 2 the cylindrical contactsurfaces 366 and 367 `are insulated from one another. One line ofseparation between the two contact surfaces as indicated in dotted linesat 314 runs parallel to the axis of the drum. The other line ofseparation of the two surfaces, as shown at 316, is disposed diagonallyto the axis of the drum.. An .electrical circuit is closed through thecontact surface 306 of the switch by means of a brush 3th carried on thedepending arm of a traveller 3259 which is sleeved to `slide and torotate upon a longitudinally extending supporting shaft 322 of themachine. When the switch is to be used as an on and olf switch thecylindrical contact surface 307 is grounded. The traveller 329l isadopted to be shifted longitudinally of the switch axis by means of abracket 324 and a shift rod 326 to which the bracket is secured. Theshift rod 326 is secured by means of a bracket 327 to the adjustabledead stop carrier block Zl (see Fig. 6), so that the position of theshift rod 326 and switch brush 318 supported thereby are adjustedautomatically lengthwise of the cam cylinder 304 in accordance with thesetting of the carrier stops. The traveller y3249 is connected to thebracket 324 through a flange and slot connection so that the traveller320 while connected to move longitudinally as a unit with a shift rod326 is permitted to swing freely about its axis on the rod 322.

vA tension spring 328 connected between the traveller 32@ and bracket324 tends to rock the traveller 32d so that contact member 318 is heldat all times against the sur- .face contact element 366 of the drum.

The rotary switch above described provides a most effective device forenergizing and deenergizing .the Amain rotary electrofmagnetic clutch110, lll in timed relation to the movement of the main carrier slide bar108 in each direction.

As hereinafter more fully set forth in connection with the descriptionof the machine operation it is contemplated that rotary switches of thetype described may be employed for many purposes as, for example, incornbination with one another to reduce the voltage applied to andthereafter to wholly deenergize the rotary electro-magnetic clutch atdifferent points in the travel of the main carrier slide bar. In thiscombination the first rotary switch is adjusted to alter the electricalcircuit to reduce the holding power of the clutch to about 10% of therequired starting torque immediately after the carrier has been broughtup to speed in either direction. The second rotary switch is constructedand arranged to wholly deenergize the clutch at the moment when theassociated carrier rod reaches its end stop determined position. Rotaryswitches of the type referred to may be utilized also to effect anincrease followed by a decrease in the extent of travel of a yarncarrier rod, and will be useful7 for example where reinforcementcarriers move outwardly at the outside of the heel7 and inwardly at theinside of the heel to form the pointex or pyramidal design of the heelreinforcement.

One or more of the rotary switches as above described may be employed incombination with the mechanical carrier slow-down stop devices abovedescribed to provide for a most effective control of the operation ofthe main carrier slide bar 198 and of the individual carrier rodsactuated thereby. With this arrangement of the mechanisrn the voltagewould be applied to engage the electromagnetic clutch ll, llll at themoment when the main carrier slide bar ltl reverses its direction oftravel. For the purpose of this description it is assumed that thereversal is from right to left with the parts as shown in Fig. 6. Atthis point the brush 31S crosses the separation line 3M from surface 306onto surface 35W. A heavy starting torque is imposed upon the clutchelements 1li), lll which is preferably thereafter sharply reduced as thecarrier rod is brought up to speed to about 10% of the initial chargewithout producing slippage. The carrier slide bar continues its movementto the left from one to the other position until the associated stop 242engages the associated slow-down bell crank lever 23d mounted upon andtravelling with the associated bracket 236 on the half-speed `driveshaft lt, thus slowing the main slide bar to half speed. Thereafter, thebell crank lever 234 engaging carn 250 still further slows the movementof the slide bar ltl and associated carrier bar until arrested byengagement with a stop on the stop block '.Zs. At the same time the camfollower brush /l crosses the diagonal dividing line 3io to deenergizethe rnain slide bar driving clutch 110, lil.

In order to simplify the electrical controls for the machine anelectrical control shaft is employed which is adapted to have impartedthereto a stepped rotation which is timed with the rotation of the maincam shaft 3@ of the machine. Successive steps of rotation are dictatedby means of buttons on the pattern chain of the machine as shown in Fig.7. When it is desired to impart a stepped rotational movement to thecontrol shaft indicated at #ttl-i in Figs. l and l0, a button is placedon the Chain 284 which will rock a lever 298 which in turn closes thecontacts of a switch 392. The contacts for this switch, as shown in Fig.9, are normally open in a circuit which includes a solenoid 400indicated in Figs. l, 9 and l0. Energizing of the solenoid operates toshift a roller dill mounted on an actuating lever 303 into alignmentwith a cam 402 on the main cam shaft 36. The cam 402 is shaped to rockthe lever 403 once for each revolution of the cam shaft 30. The lever463 is formed with a laterally extending arm .405 whichcarries apawl 4%for engagement with -a ratchet V407.911 .theelectrical control shaft404. For shifting the follower roll 401 into and out of engagement withcam 402 there is provided a forked roll shifting lever 410 which ispivoted on the bell crank 403, and is connected at its upper end by aBowden wire 411 with the armature of the solenoid 400. A stop 412mounted on the frame of the machine limits movement of the lever 403toward the cam shaft under the influence of its tensioning spring 413when the roller 401 is not in register with the cam 402. The electricalshaft 404 is held yieldably in each successive stepped position by meansof a detent mechanism which comprises a toothed wheel 408 secured to theshaft 404 (see Fig. and a lspring-pressed ldetent 409 having a V-shapedtooth engaging surface engaging yieldably in the notches formed by theadjacent teeth of the wheel 408.

The electrical control shaft 404 has mounted thereon switch actuatingcams which are identical in construction, each consisting of a disk orframe such as that designated at 414 (Fig. 1) which is capable ofreceiving about the periphery thereof one or more cam segments 415 forengagement with a switch 416. It will be evident that the control shaft404 may be made of a length suicient to accommodate any desired numberof switch operating cams. Further, it is contemplated -thatapproximately 30 cam segments may be placed about the periphery of anyone of the cams thus providing a total number of 30 steps which are madeavailable by successive increments of rotation of the electrical controlShaft 404. In View of the complexity of the mechanism employed noattempt has been made to indicate the specific position of the actuatingcams on each of the several switch operating disks. The positions of thecams will, however, be evident to one skilled in the art from thedrawings taken in connection with the following description of theoperation.

The operation of the various circuits will now be explained as follows:

It is assumed that at the start of the operation all of the carrier rodsare in the storage position. As a first step in starting the machine,the pattern chain 284 operates a pattern lever such as that indicated at298 (Fig. 7) to close a switch 302 (see Figs. 7 and 9). The closing ofthe switch 302 causes solenoid 400 to be energized shifting the follower401 onto its cam 402 and through bell crank pawl lever 403 effecting astepped rotation of the control shaft to position (1). Switch 416 closes(see Figs. 9 and 10). At this time all the normally closed switches, asshown in the circuit for the main clutch 110 will be closed so that themain clutch 110, 111 is energized to drive the rnain carrier slide bar108. Switch 419' (Fig. 10) closes completing a circuit to solenoid 280(Fig. 6) causing arms 266 and control rod 264 of the shock absorbermechanism to be depressed so that the stops 242, 248 are held out oftheir operative position. I-t will be understood that the shifting ofthese stops to the inoperative position is necessary at this time topermit the main slide bar 108 to be moved to its extreme end position.The machine is then allowed to make one or two revolutions to insurethat the carrier slide bar 108 is positioned properly. However, in orderto control the movement of the slide bar 108 more accurately, two limitswitches 42.1 and 422 are placed in series in the main clutch circuit toopen the circuit f and stop further movement of the clutch and slidebar.

These switches are placed at each end of the main slide bar, one ofwhich is shown in Fig. 6, near the top and to the left of the frame,while the other is out of the range of the drawing. TheseV two switchesare only actuated when the slide bar 108 reaches its extreme endposition, which will only occur when bringing in or taking out a carrierrod from the storage position. They also have the capacity of centeringthe slide bar properly, in the event that it should become positionedtoo far" .on one side, which can happen, if, for some reason the 10current should fail leaving the main slide bar half-way across itsnormal movement, while, at the same time, the coulier motion may be atthe end of its stroke. It is understood that the main slide bar also hasdead stops for the extreme end positions, which would take any unduepressure from the limit switches 421 and 422.

As a next step in the operation of the electrical control, a bump on thepattern chain will actuate switch 302 to cause the control shaft 404 tobe moved to position (2). Switch 417 closes causing high speed carrierclutch 136-138, more generally referred to as clutch 98", to beenergized, thus connecting carrier 98 to be driven from the main carrierbar 108. Normally closed switch 418 opens thus deenergizing theassociated high speed carrier clutch brake 150. The selected carrier 98will now move away from its stop position following the movement of themain carrier slide bar 108. It will be understood that the operationthus far described takes place with -the machine operating at arelatively slow speed. It will be understood that carriers 99 and 100may be operated in a similar manner and the associated braking elementswill be disconnected by actuating the respective switches 418 and 418illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.

After the carrier has moved sufficiently away from its endv position abump on the pattern chain operates through its associated pattern lever298 to close switch 302 causing electrical control shaft 404 to beshifted to position (3). Switch 419 opens since for this position no camsegment is put on the disk for switch 419 so that the stop hold-outsolenoid 280 is deenergized permitting the slow down shock absorbingmechanism stops 242, 248 to be shifted to their operative position. Theoperation of the machine may now be continued at the full speed.

The operation of the electrical connections associated with the carrierslow down and stop mechanism which operates to slow down and traversethe main slide bar and associated selected carrier rod at the end of thetraverse in each direction will be reviewed briefly as follows:

Assuming that the main slide bar 108 i's moving from right to left fromthe position shown in Fig. 6, the rotary switch 419 mounted on the maincam shaft 30 will function first, the contacts thereof being shiftedfrom a normally closed to an open position. This means that at thebeginning of the stroke while the contacts are closed the clutch isactuated by the full voltage of volts from the power supply. Switch 416remains closed. Now, as the machine moves the slide bar and carrier rodabout l inch away from its starting position, the rotation of the switch419 will cause the contacts thereof to open, so that the voltage passingonly through the variable resistor 420 is reduced to a low figurearbitrarily set at 15 volts. It will be understood that this voltage issubject to change, but must be low enough to permit slippage of theclutch when stop 242 will overtake and engage against the bell cranklever 234, thus causing the main carrier slide bar 108 to be slowed downto move at the half speed with the half-speed driver 154. Thismechanical slow down takes place about 11/2 to 2 inches from the deadstop on a block 208. The vertical arm of the slow down bell crank nowengages the main slide bar 108 and associated carrier rod. As thecarrier rod seats against its dead stop on block 208 the followercontact member of a rotary brush type switch 304 will break the circuitto the main clutch 110. The vcontact member is the brush 318. Rotaryswitch 304 has an inclined line of separation as shown in Fig. 2 whichwill vary the length of time the switch is closed in accordance with thevariations in the width of the stocking being knitted.

It is understood that the coulier motion including the slur bar anddriver continue to the limit of their movement to the left thusproducingv an over-travel of the main driver 106 with respect to themain slide bar 10S which for the widest part of the stocking will be inthe order of l-llz inches. It will be understood that the stocking isnarrow when the travel is shorter and the overtravel becomes longer indirect proportion. When the end of the coulier stroke is reached and theneedles have completed their knitting motion, the followers associatedwith the rotary clutch lill), 1li will move respectively onto theenergized and high voltage contact surface of the respective rotaryswitches 304 and 419, thus energizing the main slide bar clutch M0, 1Mat the full voltage.

During the return stroke the operations above described are repeated inthe same order from left to right.

The procedure employed for introducing additional carrier rods into thefield of knitting, as for example in the heel, may be briefly describedas follows:

The operation of the machine is rst slowed in the usual manner,preferably by automatic means. After the slowdown has taken place switch302 is actuated by a button on the chain which acts through the solenoid400 `to advance the control shaft 404 to the next position (4). Asegment on the disk controlling switch 419' will throw this switch atthis time energizing solenoid 280 which causes the stops 242, 24S of theshock absorbing mechanism to be rendered inoperative as above describedto permit the main carrier slide bar 108 to be moved to its extreme endposition. At this point in the operation it will be understood that thelength ofthe stroke of the main slide bar 108 will have been reducedfrom the original l5 inches which would be the full width of thestocking to about 8 inches which would be the width of the ankle. lnorder to permit the continued movement of the slide bar 108 to itsextreme position the active carrier rod in use must be left in the eldof knitting momentarily. At about the same time that the stops 242, 248are rendered inoperative and on the same movement of the electricalcontrol shaft 404, the switch 417 will open. This is due to the factthat on this movement, no cam segment will be under the switch 417,permitting it open and break the circuit to the carrier rod clutch 98'.Also, on this same movement, the switch 4.5.8 will be moved, because,here again, no cam segment will be under the respective disk in its 4thposition. Switch 418 thus is permitted to return to its normally closedposition causing brake l5@ to be reenergized. This action will act tohold the carrier rod momentarily in its end position. With this clutch98' released and with the shock absorbing mechanism out of operation,the main carrier slide bar 198 is now permitted to move under theinfluence of the coulier mechanism to its extreme end position in orderto engage with and move the heel carrier rod 09 from the storageposition. In order to elfect this movement it is necessary that therotary switch 304 be rendered inoperative so that the electro-magneticclutch H0, lll connecting the main slide bar Mig to move with thecoulier driver 106 will remain energized. To this end a cam segment willthrow switch 423', shunting out switch 304. The operation of theseswitches will become evident from studying electrical diagram, Figs. 9and l0.

When the coulier drive including the slide bar 108 has reached itsextreme end position, a button on the chain acts through an associatedlever 298, and will close switch 302 to advance the control shaft 406ito position (5). it will be noted, however, that any time that the slidebar 105 reaches its extreme end position, one of the two limit switches421', 422' will break the circuit to the main clutch. Now, in order toreturn the slide bar on the following stroke, it is essential that somemeans be taken to re-energize the main clutch, even though one of thetwo limit switches 421', 422 is holding the circuit open. A rotary brushtype switch 424 .is employed to this end. This switch is identical toswitch 419, and is timed on the cam shaft 30 -to close ,just before thebeginning lof a new stroke so that in the event one of the two limitswitches 421', 422' have been broken at the end of the previous stroke,this switch 424' will reclose the circuit. This switch is never out ofthe circuit, but will have no effect unless switch 416 is closed, andthen only if one of the switches 421', 422' are open. Also, this switch424' is timed to open again, just after the slide bar 108 moves away ashort distance on the new stroke, allowing the switches 421', or 422 toremake, whichever one had been open.

Continuing with the new position (5 of the control shaft 404, one of theheel carrier clutches is now energized in order to bring the carrierinto the field of knitting. Usually, the right hand heel carrier isbrought in first, although this is optional. Therefore, the slide bar108 is at its extreme right end position when the control shaft 404i isadvanced to position (5). Then a limit switch 417' will close. This isanother switch identical to switches 416, 417, 418 and 419'. It also hasa disk and cam segment on the control shaft 404 such as those for 96',97', 99', 100', 101', 102'. Let us assume that it controls clutch 99'.Upon closing of the switch 417', then clutch 99' will become energized,and, as the machine starts moving, the heel carrier will also startmoving into the field of knitting. In order to permit the carrier 99 tobe rendered operative, movement of the control shaft 404 to position (5)acts also to open switch M8' to disengage the associated brake.

Since the heel carrier rod is a short course carrier, a somewhatdifferent switching arrangement must be inaugurated for these initialcourses, than for a main carrier rod, which travels the entire distanceof the width of the stocking. The same carrier rod circuit can be usedas for a main carrier, but, in addition, more switching is required tocontrol the short course carrier rods, since the cut-off switching ofthe main slide bar 103 is not useful for these short course carrierrods. As explained earlier, the short course carrier rods must bebrought in out of storage at a one to one ratio with the movement of thecoulier, but once they are in the field of knitting the speed of theshort course carrier rods can be reduced in relation to the speed of thecouliering stroke. Therefore, it is essential that they be brought in bymeans of the main slide bar 108, and then later transferred to the slowspeed slide bar 162. In the case of the initial course for bringing inthe short course carriers, the rotary switch 304 for the main slide baris rendered inoperative, and other means are employed for stopping theshort course carriers. This is accomplished in the following manner:

On the movement of the control shaft 404 to position (5), the limitswitch 423' is closed, by placing a segment on the disk for this switchat position (5). Also, another switch 426' is opened (see Figs. 9 andl0). This switch is identical to switches 416, 4ll7, 418, and 419', andhas its own disk and cam segments. Since this switch is a closed type,the operation of it will open the circuit and, a study of the diagramwill reveal that this action will yremove the full volts from the clutch99' for the heel carrier rod, The remaining voltage, which comes throughthe variable resistor 427', will be approximately l5 volts. This issufficient voltage to move the carrier rod 99 in at low speed, and, atthe same time, permit the clutch 99 to slip after the short coursecarrier rod 99 reaches its destination. The main slide bar must,however, be carried to the other extreme end of its movement, in orderto pick up the other short course carrier rod, stored on the oppositeside of the knitting head. Since the switch 304 has been shunted themain slide bar 10S will continue until it reaches its dead stop and thelimit switch 422', or 421', whichever side of the movement is effective.

It will be understood that the circuit above described for the shortcourse carrier rod 99 is duplicated for other carrier rods, the circuitsfor carrier rods 98 and 100 being shown by way of example. 'The controlcircuit for'high speed carrier clutch 93' includes variableresistor49,27

whchiS-,arbitrarly setter rCQnvenience at 15 volts and a normally closedshunt switch 426 similar to the switch for convenience at 15 volts, anda normally closed shunt switch 426.'.

The next step is to pick up the other short course 'carrier rod whichfor convenience is designated as rod 100. First, the pattern chainoperates switch 302 to further index the electrical control shaft 404 toposition (6). All f the limit switches for the main slide bar 108 andfor the high speed carrier clutch 99 for the rst activated heel carrierrod 99 will remain static, but another circuit similar to thatpreviously described for clutch 99 by controlling clutch 100 will beactivated through another limit switch 417" similar to limit switch 417.The process of bringing in the second heel carrier 100 will be the sameas for the first heel carrier 99. In this operation switch 423 remainsclosed so that rotary switch 304 which would shut olf the power tothemain clutch 110 as the main slide bar 10S' approaches the limit of itsnormal operating range, is shunted. A normally closed switch 426" isopened thus reducing the power to clutch 100', now shunted through thevariable resistor 427", to l volts. It will be understood that the rstheel carrier 99 will not have been disconnected during this operation,but will be permitted to move about as the slide bar is actuated.

After the second heel carrier is engaged at the end of that stroke, theelectrical control shaft 404 is again advanced to position (7) aspattern chain again operates switch 302 to effect indexing of the shaft404. At this point .a number of electrically controlled functions takeplace simultaneously. First, through the proper cam segments beingplaced on the respective disks, switch 417 is closed to reactivate thecircuit for the main or leg carrier rod 98, and at the same time, switch418 is moved to open the circuit to the associated brake 150.

y Secondly, switch 417 is opened which renders the high speed carrierclutch 99 for the carrier 99 inoperative. Switch 417 opens whichrrendershigh speed carrier clutch 100 for the second heel carrier rod 10) alsoinoperative. Thirdly, a switch 428 is closed to engage the low speedcarrier clutch 189 to drive the rst heel carrier 99 at the slow rate,and switch 428 closes to engage the slow speed carrier clutch 188 fordriving the second heel carrier 100 at the slow rate. At the same timeswitch 434 opens to disengage brake 204 associated with the slow speedcarrier clutch 188 and switch 434 opens to disengage brake 436associated with the slow speed carrier clutch 189. The switches 434 and434 take the form of micro-switches controlled by means of cams mountedon the electrical control shaft 404. Also switch 429 is closed to engagethe slow speed main clutch 164-166. Switch 419 is now released thusreleasing solenoid 280 and causing the shock absorbing mechanism to bereactivated. The machine can now be returned to high speed operation.

It will be understood that circuits similar to those above described areprovided for the remaining carriers for both low speed and high speedoperation. Since description or further illustration of these circuitswould be near duplication, further description of same has been omitted.

, It will be noted that the circuit employed for controlling the mainslow speed clutch 164-166 for driving the slow speed slide bar 162differs in certain respects from the circuit employed for controllingthe main clutch 110 for driving the main slide bar 108. Since the slowspeed slide bar 162 will always travel through the same course and isnot affected by the width of the stocking, it is not necessary toinclude a variable type brush switch which would correspond with thebrush switch 304 employed with the main'clutch. It has been foundnecessary only to include two limit switches 430 and 431 in series inthe circuit for the slow speed main clutch 164 as illustrated vin, Fig.9. One of these switches only has been shown also in Fig. 6 of thedrawings. These switches are sol placed as to be rendered operativerespectively at the two y ends ofthe stroke of the slow speed slide bar162. One

additional switch 432 of the rotary brush type mounted on the main camshaft 30 is provided for shunting out each ofthe two switches 430, 431.This rotary switch 432 is timed to close energizing the clutch justbefore the beginning of a new stroke, and to open immediately after therespective limit switch 430 or 431, as the case may be, closes shortlyafter the new stroke commences.

The circuits employed for controlling each of the slow speed carrierclutches 18S-189, of which the two circuits for the clutches 189 and 188have been illustrated, include in addition to the switch 428, abovedescribed, a variable rotary brush type switch 433 in the low speedcarrier clutch 189 circuit, and a switch 433 in the low speed carrierclutch 188 circuit, which are identical with the switch 304 and areemployed for varying the moment at which the low speed carrier clutch isdisconnected. These switches operate to disconnect power from therespective heel carrier rods individually at varying points in thecarrier travel according to the width of the heel. A limit switch 434operated from the control shaft 404 is employed to disengage the brake204 associated with the low speed carrier clutch when the respectivecarrier is in operation. A similar limit switch 434 similarly operatedfromthe control shaft 404, is employed to disengage the brake 436associated with the low speed carrier clutch 189 when carrier 99 is inoperation.

The invention having been described what is claimed is: l 1,.'In astraight' knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft, knittingmechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as a unit, andcarriers for feeding yarn to the needles, a carrier drive mechanismwhich comprises arcoulier mechanism driven from thecam shaft, a driverconnected to be positively reciprocated by said coulier mechanism,a'carrier slide bar, a rotary electromagnetic clutching device connectedbetween said driver and said slide bar, at least one yarn carriersupporting rod, and a rotary electro-magnetic clutch connected be-'driven from the shaft7 a driver connected to be reciprocated by saidcoulier mechanism, a carrier slide bar, a rotary electro-magneticclutching device connected between said driver and carrier slide bar, atleast one carrier supporting rod, a rotary electro-magnetic clutchconnected between the carrier slide bar and carrier rod, adjustablestops Y on the machine for arresting the traverse of the carrier rod andcarrier slide bar therewith7 a rotary switching device drivensynchronously with the coulier mechanism having means to adjust theswitch timing, electrical connections comprising energizing and at leastpartially de-energizing circuits for said rotary electro-magneticclutching device controlled bysaid rotary switch, and means responsivetothe position'of said stops for correspondingly varying the adjustmentof said switching device.

3. In aflat full-fashioned type knitting machine having a cam shaft,knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the needles, a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a driver. connected to be reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, acarrier slide bar, arotary electro-magnetic clutching device connectedbetween said driver and carrier slide bar, a plurality of yarn carriersupporting rods, means .selectively connecting thecarrier lrods to bedriven by the vcarrier slide bar, adjustable stops on the machine forarresting the traverse of the carrier rod and the carrier slidebarrtherewith, electrical connections comprising energiz- :ing and`atleast partially deenergizing circuits for said electro-magneticclutching device, and a switching device i for said circuits timed withthe movement of the carrier slide bar.

4. In a fiat full-fashioned type knitting machine, having a cam shaft,kntting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the needles, a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a driver connected to be reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, acarrier slide bar, a rotary electro-magnetic clutching device connectedbetween said driver and carrier slide bar, a plurality of yarn carriersupporting rods, means including a rotary electro-magnetic clutch forconnecting a selected carrier rod with the carrier slide bar, adjustablestops on the machine for arresting the traverse of a selected carrierrod and the main carrier slide bar therewith, electrical connectionscomprising energizing and at least partially deenergizing circuits forsaid electro-magnetic clutching device, a rotary switch for saidcircuits timed with the movement of the carrier slide bar and inaccordance with the adjustment of said stops, and electrical means forcontrolling said electro-magnetic clutch for selectively connecting anddisconnecting a selected carrier rod to move with said carrier slidebar.

5. ln a flat full-fashioned type knitting machine, having a cam shaft,knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the needles, a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a driver connected to be reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, acarrier slide bar, a rotary electromagnetic clutching device connectedbetween said driver and carrier slide bar, a plurality of yarn carriersupporting rods, means including a rotary electro-magnetic clutch forconnecting a selected carrier rod with the carrier slide bar,electro-magnetic carrier rod braking devices for holding each of saidyarn carrier supporting rods in stopped position, adjustable stops onthe machine for arresting the traverse of a selected carrier rod and themain carrier slide bar therewith, pattern means for the machine actuatedfrom the cam shaft, electrical means including a switch timed with therotation of the cam shaft for energizing and deenergizing said rotaryelectro-magnetic clutching device in accordance with the adjustment ofsaid stops, and electrical control devices actuated by said patternmeans for selectively energizing and deenergizing said electro-magneticcarrier rod clutch and said electromagnetic carrier rod braking devices.

6. ln a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft,knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the needles, of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a carrier slide bar, an electro-magnetic clutching device comprising adriving clutch element driven from the coulier mechanism and a drivenclutch element connected to drive said slide bar, electrical meanscomprising energizing and at least partially deenergizing circuits forsaid electro-magnetic clutching device, a rotary switching devicecontinuously driven in timed relation to said cam shaft comprisingseparated cylindrically shaped contact surfaces, connected with therespective circuits, a Contact member engaging said surfaces, and meansfor relatively adjusting the position of said contact surfaces andContact member to vary the angular position with respect to the switchaxis at which said member passes from one to the other surface.

7. ln a straight knitting machine the combination .with a cam shaft,knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit and carriers for feeding yarn to the needles, of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a carrier siide bar, an electro-magnetic clutching devlce comprising adriving clutch element driven from the coulier mechanism and a drivenclutch element connected to drive said slide bar, adjustable stops `onthe machine for arresting the traverse of the carrier slide bar, aplurality of rotary switching devices continuously driven in timedrelation to said cam shaft each comprising separated cylindricallyshaped contact surfaces, electrical means comprising energizing anddeenergizing circuits fcr said electro-magnetic clutching deviceconnected with the respective contact surfaces of one switching device,and energizing and partially deenergizing circuits for saidelectro-magnetic clutching device connected with the respective contactsurfaces of the other of said switching devices, a Contact memberassociated with each switching device for engaging the contact surfacesthereof, and means for adjusting the positions of said stops andsimultaneously for adjusting the position of at least one contact memberto correspondingly vary the angular position with respect to the switchaxis at which said member passes from one to the other surface.

8. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft,knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the needles, of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a carrier slide bar, a rotary electro-magnetic clutching devicecomprising a driving clutch element driven from the coulier mechanism,and a driven clutch element connected to drive said slide bar,electrical means comprising energizing and at least partiallydeenergizing circuits for said rotary electro-magnetic clutching device,and a rotary switching device continuously driven in timed relation withsaid cam shaft and connected with said electrical means for energizingand deenergizing said clutch in timed relation with the movement of saidslide bar.

9. ln a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft,knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the needles, of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a carrier slide bar, a rotary electro-magnetic clutching devicecomprising a driving clutch element driven from the coulier mechanism,and a driven clutch element connected to drive said slide bar,electrical connections comprising energizing and at least partiallydeenergizing circuits for said rotary electro-magnetic clutching device,adjustable stops on the machine for controlling the traverse of thecarrier slide bar, a switching device acting in timed relation to themovement of the slide bar for conditioning said electrical circuits toenergize and deenergize said clutch, means for adjusting the stops tocontrol the traverse of the carrier slide bar, and means acting inaccordance with said adjustment of the stops to correspondingly adjustthe timing of said switching device.

l0, ln a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft,knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the needles, of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a carrier slide bar, a rotary electro-magnetic clutching devicecomprising a driving clutch element driven from the coulier mechanism,and a driven clutch element connected with said slide bar, electricalconnections comprising energizing and at least partially deenergizingcircuits for said rotary electro-magnetic clutching device, adjustablestops on the machine for controlling the traverse of the carrier slidebar, a rotary switch having a Contact face with an edge thereof offsetdiagonally along the axis of the switch, a cooperating contact memberadjustable longitudinally of said axis, means for adjusting thepositions of said stops, and means for positioning said Contact memberlongitudinally of the switch axis in a proportion to the adjustment ofsaid stops.

ll. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft,and knitting mechanism comprising a knitting ksection including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as a unit, and carriersV forVfeeding yarn to the f 17 sinkers movable from storage positions vat theends of the knitting section, of a carrier drive mechanism whichcomprises a couliermechanism driven from the cam shaft, a driverreciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a slow speed driverreciprocated. by said coulier mechanism at a rate substantially slowerthan the driver, at least one yarn carrier supporting rod adapted foropera,- tion as a short course carrier rod, a carrier slide bar arrangedto be driven by said driver, a slowspeed carrier slide bar connected tobe driven by said slow speed driver, means connecting a carrier rod tobe driven selectively from said carrier slide bar and from'said slowspeed carrier slide bar as a short course carrier rod, pattern means,and automatic means controlled by said pattern means for connecting thecarrier rod to be driven selectively from said carrier slide bar to andfrom the storage position and from saidl slow speed carrier slide bar tofeed am. i 1 y 12. In a straight knitting machine, the combination witha cam shaft, and knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beardneedles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the fsinkers,ofv a carrier drive-mechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism drivenfrom the cam shaft, a yarn carrier slide bar connected to bereciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a slow speed carrier slide barconnected to be reciprocated by said s coulier mechanism at a ratesubstantially slower than the carrier slide .bar including a magneticclutch, at least one carrier support rod, disconnectible means forimparting movements to the carrier rod from the carrier slide bar,disconnectibleY means vincluding a magnetic clutch connecting-thecarrier rod to be reciprocated from said slow speed carrier Aslide bar,`and pattern means controlling said disconnectible means including saidmagnetic clutchesto. cause'the carrier rod to be driven selectively fromsaid`ca1'rier slide bar and from said; slow speed' carrier slide bar.

Y 13. In a straight knitting machine, the combination withl a cam shaft,and knitting mechanism comprising a knitting section .including sinkers,spring beard needles movable as a unit' and carriersv for'feeding yarnto the sinkers'movable from storage-positions at the ends ofthe knittingsection, kof a carrier drive mechanism whichcomprises a couliermechanism driven from the ycam shaft,

a yarn carrier slide bar connected to be reciprocated i a slow speedcarrier slide bar by said coulier mechanism, connected to' bereciprocated by said coulier mechanism at a rate substantially slowerthanjthe yarn carrier slide bar, at least one carrier support rod, arotary electro-magnetic clutchc'onnected Ybetween the carrier slide -barand the carrier rod for moving said carrier rod to and fomy the storageposition, a separate rotary electro-magnetic ,clutch connected betweenthe slow speed carrier slide bar and the carrier rod for moving saidcarrierrod to feed yarn, pattern means for the machine, and electricalactuated by said pattern means for controlling said electro-magneticclutches to cause the carrier rod to be driven selectively from saidcarrier slide bar to and from the storage position and fromv said slowspeed carrier slide bar to feed yarn.

14. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft,and knitting mechanism comprising a knitting section including sinkers,spring beard needles movable as a unit, and carriers for feeding yarn tothe sinkers movable from storage positions at the ends of the knittingsection, of a carrier drive'mechanism which comprises a'couliermechanism driven from the cam shaft, a yarn carrier slide bar connectedto be reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a slow speed carrier slidebar connected to be reciprocated by said coulier mechanism at a ratesubstantially'slower than the yarn carrier slide bar, at least one shortcourse carrier support rod, a rotary electro-magnetic clutch connectedbetween the carrier slide bar and the carrier rod, a separate rotarymeans vcarrier slide bar and the carrier rod, lelectricalconnections forrendering each of 4 said clutches individually operative andinoperative, and pattern means-for the machine controlling saidelectrical connections for energizing the first-mentioned rotaryelectro-magnetic clutch to shift said short coursecarrier rod betweenthe storage and operating 4position andA for energizing Asaidlatterrotary electro-magnetic clutch to drive said short-"course carrier rodfrom the slow speed carrier slide bar.

1.5. In a straight knitting machine,I the, combination with a cam shaft,and knitting n iechanisrrr comprising, a knitting section includingsinkers, spring `b eard needles movable as ya unit,`and carriers forfeeding yarn to the sinkersmovable from storage'positionsat the ends ofthe knitting section,of acarrierdrive mechanism which comprises acoulier mechanismsjdriven .from theicam shaft, a yarn carrier slide ba1'connected to ,be reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a slow speedvcarrier slide bar connected tobe reciprocated by said coulier mechanismata ratesubstantially slower 'than the yarn carrier slide bar, aplurality of carrier support rods, disconnectible meansconnectingselected carrier rods to'be reciprocated fromv the carrier,bar, disconnectible mea'ns connecting other selected` carrier rods to bereciprocated as short course carriers from said slow speed carrier bar,pattern means forthe machinepand pattern actuated control means for saiddisconnectible means for connecting and Vdisconnecting said 'selected`carrier rods vto be driven from said carrier bar and short coursecarrier rods to` be moved to and from storagev position,` and forconnecting and disconnecting saidshort course carriers to be drivenwhile feeding yarn to the sinkersfrom `said slow. speed carrier bar. v,l 1. Y

16.` In a straightgknittingjmachine, .the combination with a 4cam shaft,and knitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beardfneedles movable.as a Aunit, and carriers for feeding 4yarn `to the sinkers,: ofgacarrier drive mechanism which comprises a couliermechanismdriven fromthe caml shaft, a driver-:reciprocated by said coulier mechanism,acarrier-slide bar, and a rotary electro-mag netic clutching deviceconnecting the carrier slide lbar to be driven` from thedriver,1aslow,spe'ed driver recipro` cated by said coulier mechanismI at.a rate substantially slower thanthe carrier` slide bar, a slow speed'carrier slide bar, arotary velectro-magnetic clutchingtdeviceconnectingthe'vslowspeed slide bar* to be driven by the slow speedydriver, yarn carrier-,.t-rodsincludin'g short course .carrier rods,rotary electro-magneticiclutchesz connected between each ofsaid carrierrodsV and the "carrierrl slide bar, additional rotary electro-magneticclutches connected between the slow speed slide ,bar-andselectedrslio'rt course carrier rods, electrical,connectionsfor,r'enderingeach of said clutchesindividuallyv operative vandinoperative, pattern means controlling-said electrical connectionsforconnecting said vcarrienactuated slidel lbar with .selected carrier rodsincluding a selected short course carrier rod to move said short coursecarrier rod between operative and inoperative positions, and patternmeans controlling said electrical connections to operatively connect anyactivated short course carrier rod with said slow speed carrier slidebar.

17. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft andknitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarns to the sinkers of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a driver reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a carrier actuatingslide bar, a rotary electromagnetic clutch connecting said carrier slidebar to be driven from the driver, a slow speed driver reciprocated bysaid coulier mechanism at a rate substantially slower than the driver, aplurality of yarn carrier supporting rods, a slow speed carrier slidebar connected to be driven by said slow speed driver, rotaryelectro-magnetic clutches connected vbetween said slide bar and each ofsaid carrier rods, additional rotary electro-magnetic clutches connectedbetween the slow speed slide bar and selected carrier rods, electricalconnections for rendering each of said clutches individually operativeand inoperative, and pattern means controlling said electricalconnections'for rendering selected ones of said clutches operative andinoperative.

18. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a cam shaft andknitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles mov-able as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the sinkers, of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a driver reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a carrier actuatingslide bar, a siip clutch driving means connecting the slide bar to bedriven from `the driver, a slow speed vdriver reciprocated by saidcoulier mechanism at a rate substantially slower than said slide bar,adjustable stop devices on the machine operable to limit the movement ofthe slide bar, a slow down device comprising slow down members shiftablysupported on the slow speed driver, abutments on the slide bar arrangedfor engagement with the respective slow down members thereby to slow theslide bar to the rate of the slow speed driver, and a contact surface oneach stop device rendered operative by engagement of the respective slowdown member therewith for shifting the respective slow down member tofurther slow the slide bar.

19. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft, andknitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beardk needles movable as aunit and carriers for feeding yarn to the sinkers, of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a driver reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a main carrier slidebar, a slip clutch driving means connecting the slide bar to be drivenfrom the driver, a slow speed driver reciprocated by said couliermechanism at a rate substantially slower than said slide bar, adjustablestop devices on the machine operable to limit the movement of the slidebar, a slow-down device compris- -ing pivoted slow down members on theslow speed driver, an abutment on the slide bar for engagement with aslow down member, and cam means associated with a stop device arrangedto engage with and to rock the slow down member to further slow theslide bar.

20. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft, andknitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the sinkers, of a carrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a driver reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a carrier slide bar, arotary electro-magnetic clutch connecting said carrier slide bar to bedriven from the driver, a slow speed driver reciprocated by said couliermechanism at a substantially slower rate, ad'- justable stop devices onthe 'machine operable to limit the movement of the slide bar, avslowdown device comprising pivoted slow down members onv the slow speeddriver, abutments on the slide bar for engagement with said slow downmembers, and cam means associated with the stop devices arranged toengage and rock the slow down members to further slow the slide bar,electrical means having alternate positions to energize and to at leastpartially deenergize said rotaryv electro-magnetic clutch, and aswitching device controlled with relation to the movement of the slidebar for conditioning said electrical means to energize the clutch ateach reversal of the bar and to deenergize said clutch prior to theengagement of the slow down device with an abutment.

2l. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft, andknitting mechanism including sinkers, spring beard needles movable as aunit, and carriers for feeding yarn to the sinkers, of a vcarrier drivemechanism which comprises a coulier mechanism driven from the cam shaft,a driver reciprocated by said coulier mechanism, a carrier actuatingslide bar, an electro-magnetic slip clutch driving means connecting theslide bar to be driven from the driver, a slow speed driver reciprocatedby said coulier mechanism at a rate substantially slower than said slidebar, adjustable stop rmeans on the machine operable to limit themovement of the slide bar, a mechanical slow-down device comprising slowdown members shiftab'ly supported on the slow speed driver, abutments onthe slide bar arranged for engagement with the respective slow down'members thereby to slow the slide bar to the rate of the slow speeddriver, and a contact surface on each stopdevice rendered operative byengagement of the respective slow down member therewith for shifting therespective slow down member to further slow the slide bar, electricalmeans including energizing and at `least partially deenergizing circuitsfor said slip clutch driving means, and a rotary switching devicecontinuously driven in timed relation with the cam shaft and connectedwith said electrical means to energize said slip clutch driving meanswith each reversal of the driver and thereafter to deenergize said slipclutch driving means in advance of the engagement of the slow downmember with the surface of the respective stop means.

References Cited in the ijle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,546,799 Shoemaker .Tuly 21, 1925 2,063,000 Richter Dec. 1, 19362,105,444 Schmidt Ian. 1l, 1938 2,637,183 Bitzer et al. May 5, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 978,217 France Nov. 22, 1950

